Apparatus for recovering seaplanes from the water



April 8, 1947. G. A. OTT ETAL 2,418,478

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SEAPLANES FROM THE WATER Filed Jan; 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS GEORGE A.OTT

BRUCE A VAN VOORH/S ATTORNEY April 8, 1947. 0111- ETAL 2,418,478

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SEAPLANES FROM THE WATER Filed Jan. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 0 GEORGE A. OTT

BRUCE A VAN VOORHIS ATTORNEY Patentecl Apr. 8, 1947 APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING SEAPLANES FROM THE, WATER George A. Ott, Coronado, Calif., and Bruce A. Van Voorhis, United States Navy, Washington, D.

Application January 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,218

8 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

This invention relates to recovering seaplanes from the water and it has a particular relation to the recovery of a seaplane and hoisting it aboard a vessel while underway.

f One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for use in recovering a seaplane and taking it aboard ship while the ship is underway, by maneuvering the ship in such manner as to form a slick on the lee side thereof into which a seaplane may be landed, ,taxied to recovery position and towed alongside during the recovery operations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a' device adapted to be towed astern or alongside of a vessel and with which a taxiing seaplane engages to be towed thereby while the hoisting tackle is being connected with the plane.

damaging the plane by collision therewith.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a recovery device which will smooth out turbulent water and form a slick for a seaplane taxiing toward the device. With these and other objects in View, as well as other advantages that may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, "with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

In order to make the invention more clearly I understood, there are shown in the accompanying drawings, means for carrying the invention into practical use, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular construction, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a seaplane recovering device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view looking aft, illustrating the manner in which the device is towed alongside of a vessel;'and

of the structure amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 2 j V, A Fig. 4 is a similar view looking toward the side of the vessel.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, a seaplane recovery device is shown as comprising a float. or sled Ill having an upwardly curved forward edge H and a rod or bar I2 extending across its rear edge to which a rearwardly trailing net I3 is secured. This net is of a relatively wide mesh and is adapted to be engaged by a hook M on the pontoon l5 of a seaplane, indicated generally at I 6. This hook may be pivoted so as to fold back in passing over the net or inthe event the plane overrides the net and rides up onto the float or sled. A fabric apron 11, preferably canvas soaked in red lead is secured to the rear edge of the .float l0 and extends rearwarclly beneath the net 13 and is preferably laced to the outside strands thereof. This apron is shown as terminating at a point about one-half the length of the net but it may be of equal length or even longer if so desired, and tends to support the net and provide a slick for an approaching seaplane. Streamers I8 may be attached to therear edge of the apron I7 and trail through the water while the device is being towed to maintain the net extended and to indicate its position to the pilot.' A bridle I9 is secured to the underside of the float I0 adjacent to its forward edge for attachment to a tow line 20 leading from a boom 2| extending from the side of the vessel. The bottom side of the float II] is provided with a pair of angularlydisposed vanes or fins 22 for preventing the device from veering toward the side of the vessel and damaging the plane by contact therewith. The vanes 22 may correspond to either port or starboard rudder, according to which side of the ship the recovery is made. Theavanes 22 tend to move the sled or float away from the vessel on the side of the slick and the sled is maintained under control and prevented from veering too far from the side of the vessel by a breast line 20. 1

When it is desired to take a seaplane on board, the boom 21 is swung out, the sled Ill lowered into the water, the tow line 20 adjusted until the sled is opposite the crane and a breast line 20' ad- 'justed until the sled is the proper distance from- 3 pleted and taxies through the smooth water of the slick towards the sled. As the pontoon I5 rides up on the sled, the pilot closes his engine throttle, allowing thepontoon to settle. and the hook M to engage the net. Theplane is now towed along with the net where it is quite stable and is in position abreast the crane so that tackle- 1 23 may be connected to hoisting bridle 24 and the plane lifted out of the water and placed on board the ship. The entire operation is performed while the ship is underway andvwhile the plane is in the slick, formed by the turning of the ship, where the water is relatively smooth. If, for any reason, the pilot should desire to free the plane from the device, he merely speeds up the engine, which causes the pontoon 15 to rise and lift the hook l4 clear of the net. 1 p e The invention described herein may be manufactured and/or used by or for the Government .of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any rQyalties thereon or therefor.

We claim: 1 Device for recovering Seaplanes from the water comprising a float adapted to be towed by avessel, a net secured to said float and extending aft, therefrom for engagement by a hook on the pontoonof a seaplane and a fabric apron secured to the rear of said float and disposed beneath said netfor supporting the same and providing a slick therefor and for an approaching seaplane.

2., Device for recovering seaplanes from the 'water comprising a float adapted to be towed by avessel, 'a net secured to said float and extending aft therefrom forengagement by a hook on '"thepontoon of a seaplane, a fabric apron disposed beneath said net for supporting the same and providing,a slick therefor and for an approaching seaplane, andlmeans for controlling'lateral movement ofjsaijd device.

3. Device for recovering seaplanes from the water comprising a float adapted to be towed by avessel, a net secured to said float and extending. aft therefrom for. engagement by a hook on the pontoon of a seaplane, a fabric apron dispo aft therefrom 'forengagement by a hook on the pontoon of a seaplane, afabric aprondisposed beneath said net for supporting'the same and'providing a slick therefor and for an approaching seaplane, and an angularly disposed vane on' said float for preventing said device from'veering'toward the vessel when towed alongside thereof.

5. Device for recovering seaplanes from the water comprising a sled adapted to be towed by a vessel, a net secured to said sled and extendin aft therefrom for engagement by a hook on the pontoon of a seaplane and a fabric apron attached to the rear of said sled and disposed beneath said net for supporting the same and providing a, slick therefor and for an approaching seaplane,'the rear edge of said apron terminating along a line horizontally spaced in a fore and aft direction from the rear edge of said net.

6. Device for recovering seaplanes from the water comprising a sled adapted to be towed by a vessel, a net secured to said sled and extendin aft therefrom for engagement by a hook on the pontoon of a seaplane and a fabric apron attached to the rear of said sled and disposed beneath said net and terminating short of the rear end thereof for supporting the same and providing a slick therefor and for an approaching sea- 7 Water comprising a. sl d cl pt dto be tewed. y

a vessel, n t s u d to sa d s e and e t nd.- ing aft therefrom for engagement by ahook on the pontoon of a seaplane, a fabric apron attached to the rear ofsaid sled and disposed be,- neath said net for supporting the same and providing a slick therefor and for an approaching seaplane, and streamers attached'to the'rear of said apron a d long he id s of Said net f maintaining the net extended'while being towed. 8-. Device for recovering seaplanes from the water comp si a flo a ap e to e owed y a vessel, a net secured to said float'and-extending aft therefrom for engagement by a hook on the pontoon of a seaplane anda fabric apronsec re to the ar o Said floa and dispo ed en'eath'said net for supporting the same and provid ne a slick ther f r and or a a p oa hin ap an GEORGE A, 0T1, g BRUCEA. VAN VOORI-II5, l

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 12,118,909 Weichardt et a1. .i ;Mayi311' ,.193a 2,051,709 Hein Aug. 18, 936 1;128;O72 Steinm z FehJQ. 19 .5

' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date at-Britain an.-.29,.l93 435, t ritain "es-- S p 16393 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Seamanship}? byAustinlM. (Knight, 

